29/05/2026
At ADY, we're building a community of emotionally healthy, confident and resilient deaf children and young people who thrive in their personal lives and within their communities 💪
Central to our work is the vital importance of providing deaf children and young people with ongoing access to Deaf adult role models and deaf peers.
'Helping children develop a positive self-identity is shaped by their experiences and the people they meet. For deaf children, having access to deaf role models and deaf peers can be transformative, allowing them to see being deaf as a strength and providing them with a direct sense of belonging.' (Caselli, 2024, Boston University)
🌟 Deaf adult role models help deaf children see their deaf identity as a strength, showing them successful paths forward and providing positive examples of what their future holds.
🌟 Deaf peers allow for direct communication, fostering independence and deeper social connections.
🌟 Deaf adults can support parents by sharing lived experiences and offering guidance on resources, networks, and sign language, while helping parents envision a successful future for their child.
🌟 Building a positive self-identity in deaf children starts with showing them that being deaf is a natural, valued part of who they are - not something to be fixed.
Research by Byrne and McNamee (2022) highlights that deaf children in Northern Ireland are more than twice as likely to experience emotional wellbeing and mental health issues compared to hearing children. However, NI Deaf CAMHS frequently states that deaf children who access ADY's services consistently from a young age are less likely to be seen by them.
The photographs below show a tiny snippet of our work over the past few weeks - whilst wholly child-centred and rooted in fun, this work is an important protective factor in ensuring deaf children remain emotionally healthy.
